International Childhood Cancer Day 2018

Monthly Archives: February 2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – February 15, 2018 – Beltsville, MD – (ICCD) is celebrated around the world each year on February 15th. Originally commemorated in 2002, ICCD is day founded by Childhood Cancer International (CCI), a global network of 188-member organizations in 96 countries. Childhood Cancer International, along with the American Childhood Cancer Organization (ACCO), is committed to working collaboratively towards advancing cures, transforming care, and instilling hope for all children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer in the world, wherever they may live.

Sadly, childhood cancer continues to be the leading cause of non-communicable related death in children throughout the world. Globally, more than 300,000 children are diagnosed with cancer each year, including nearly 16,000 in the United States. Approximately 80 percent of our world’s children with cancer live in low-middle-income countries (LMICs) where more than 80 percent of these children die of their disease. In developed countries like the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan and others, more than 80 percent of children survive cancer with hope to live productive and meaningful lives.

The global coalition believes all children deserve hope for a cure – no matter where they live – not more excuses. We can no longer sweep this issue “under the rug.” Children are the future of our country and our world. Their vitality is the heartbeat of the world, a shared passion that can unite us because our future as a global community depends on it. Ruth Hoffman, CEO of ACCO as well as President of CCI says, “ACCO is so proud to provide the U.S. based voice in advocating for all children, no matter where they live.”

In the United States events will be taking place across the country commemorating the day, including an event in Kentucky in which Governor Matt Bevin will be speaking at a rally celebrating first time state level funding for childhood cancer research. Specially designed t-shirts including over 7,000 names of children diagnosed with cancer have also been sold across the country in their honor and memory.

The American Childhood Cancer Organization was founded in Washington, D.C. in 1970 by parents of children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer and is dedicated to shaping policy, supporting research, raising awareness, and providing educational resources and innovative programs to children with cancer, survivors, and their families. For more information please visit acco.org.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO SET UP AN INTERVIEW: Contact Jamie Ennis Bloyd, Director of Government Relations and External Affairs, American Childhood Cancer Organization at jbloyd@acco.org 859-948-4626 or Ruth Hoffman, CEO, American Childhood Cancer Organization/President of Childhood Cancer International rhoffman@acco.org at 202-262-9949.

What causes brain and spinal cord tumors in children?

Generally speaking, “cancer” is a broad name for a condition in which cells in a particular part of the body begin to malfunction. They begin to grow, divide, and replicate more quickly than normal cells, and/or they do not die as normal when they are worn out or damaged. When these abnormal, or “cancerous”, cells originate in the brain or the spinal cord, they usually form a clump or a mass known as a tumor. As the cancerous cells continue to replicate, the tumor grows until it begins to cause damage to the brain and/or the spinal cord.

Scientists are still trying to learn exactly why some cells grow, function, and die normally, while others grow abnormally and develop into a brain or spinal cord tumor. Brain and spinal cord tumors are most likely caused by mutations (random changes) in the DNA within each cell (our DNA provides instructions governing the function of each cell in our body, and ultimately how our body looks and functions as a whole). Specifically, scientists believe that mutations to two specific types of genes may be the ultimate cause of brain and spinal cord tumors in children: oncogenes control when cells grow and divide and tumor suppressor genes slow down cell division and instruct cells to die at the proper time. Whether inherited from parents or spontaneous and random, mutations to these particular genes may cause cells to malfunction and ultimately become cancerous.

Ultimately, however, scientists do not know why these mutations occur, especially in children. While lifestyle choices such as smoking can cause genetic mutations (and thus cancer) in adults, there are no known lifestyle risks associated with childhood brain and spinal cord tumors in children. Unfortunately, the genetic mutations at the root of the tumor growth are simply random changes that cannot be predicted or prevented.

Are there risk factors for brain and spinal cord tumors in children?

A “risk factor” is anything that increases an individual’s chances of developing a disease like a brain or spinal cord tumor. As noted above, most cases of brain and spinal cord tumors in children appear to be caused by random genetic mutations without a known cause. There are very few known risk factors associated with this type of childhood cancer. The only two well-established risk factors are radiation exposure and certain rare inherited genetic conditions.

Radiation exposure: exposure to large amounts of radiation is known to cause some types of cancer, including brain and spinal cord tumors in children. Now that this danger is known, the medical community takes active steps to avoid exposing the brain and central nervous system of children to radiation unless absolutely necessary. In some cases, radiation may be required as part of treatment for another type of cancer; in these cases, the benefits of treating one type of cancer must be weighed against the potential risk of developing a brain or spinal cord tumor in the future.

Inherited genetic conditions: in less than 5% of cases of childhood brain and spinal cord tumors, children have an inherited genetic condition that may increase their risk of developing a tumor. These genetic syndromes themselves are exceedingly rare, and may include:

Can the development of brain and spinal cord tumors in children be prevented?

Can the development of brain and/or spinal cord tumors in children be prevented? This is a question many parents will ask themselves upon receiving the terrible diagnosis that their child has a brain or spinal cord tumor. The answer is always “no”. There is no known way to prevent or protect against brain or spinal cord tumors, and absolutely nothing that parents or guardians could have done to prevent this disease.

About American Childhood Cancer Organization

American Childhood Cancer Organization (ACCO) is a non-profit charity dedicated to helping kids with cancer and their families navigate the difficult journey from cancer diagnosis through survivorship. Internationally, ACCO is the sole U.S. member of Childhood Cancer International (CCI), the largest patient-support organization for childhood cancer in the world. Here in the United States, ACCO promotes the critical importance of ensuring continued funding into new and better treatment protocols for childhood cancer. And most importantly, ACCO is focused on the children: developing and providing educational tools for children fighting cancer and their families, empowering them in their understanding of childhood cancer and the medical decisions they must make during this difficult journey. All of ACCO’s resources are available free of charge for families coping with childhood cancer.

For additional information about childhood cancer or on ACCO, or to order resources for you or your child, please visit our website at www.acco.org.

For additional information about childhood cancer or on the ACCO, or to order resources for you or your child, please visit our website at www.acco.org , call 855.858.2226 or visit:

Childhood Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors: A Brief Introduction

When grouped together in a single classification, cancers in the brain and spinal cord are the second most common form of cancer in children after childhood leukemia, with more than 4,000 new diagnoses every year. However, it is important to recognize that this is a very broad classification: in fact, there are many different types of brain and spinal cord cancers, each of which can cause different symptoms and each of which may require a unique treatment approach. It is also important to note at the outset of any discussion about cancers of the brain and spinal cord that, unlike in other areas of the body, oncologists do not differentiate between benign (non-cancerous) and malignant (cancerous) tumors in the central nervous system. Both types of tumors can be life-threatening if not treated. For this reason, oncologists usually refer to “brain tumors” instead of “brain cancers”.

Childhood Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors: Detection Through Common Signs and Symptoms

As with all childhood cancers, there is no “early detection” screening process for tumors of the central nervous system. Diagnosis usually comes after parents begin to observe unusual medical symptoms. Most symptoms of brain and spinal cord tumors are caused by the tumor raising the pressure inside the brain (known as intracranial pressure). The increase in intracranial pressure can lead to symptoms such as:

Headaches

Nausea and vomiting

Crossed eyes and/or blurred vision

Balance problems

Behavioral changes

Seizures

Drowsiness, potentially leading to coma

Of course, most of these symptoms are extremely common and are only rarely caused by a tumor. However, if symptoms continue over time or worsen, or in the case of seizures begin very suddenly, your pediatrician may recommend testing to properly diagnose the cause of the medical issue as quickly as possible.

Because the central nervous system controls the function of the entire body, the location of the tumor within the brain or spinal column may cause different types of symptoms:

Tumors in the cerebrum (large, outer part of the brain) can cause symptoms relating to the specific function controlled by the area of the cerebrum affected by the growth of the tumor, such as:

Tumors in the area of the cerebrum responsible for movement can lead to weakness or numbness in a specific part of the body, usually only on one side

Tumors in the area of the cerebrum responsible for language can cause speech or comprehension problems

Tumors at the front of the cerebrum can lead to issues with thinking, personality, and language skills

Tumors at the back of the cerebrum or near cranial nerves can cause issues with vision

Tumors in the cerebellum can cause symptoms relating to walking or other normal body functions

Tumors in the basal ganglia can cause unusual or abnormal body positions or movements

Tumors in cranial nerves (not those in the cerebrum) may cause loss of hearing, balance issues, weakness of facial muscles, or potentially trouble with swallowing

Tumors in the spinal cord may cause numbness, weakness, lack of coordination, and even bladder and/or bowel concerns

Childhood Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors: Diagnosis

In most cases, the first step in diagnosing a brain or spinal column is an imaging test, most likely an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). An MRI is able to create detailed images of the brain using a combination of radio waves and strong magnets; moreover, it does not involve the use of radiation, which can be extremely damaging to the brain tissue of young children. While not painful or physically invasive, an MRI can be a difficult test for some children. It can take a long time and often requires the patient to stay still in a confining tube for an extended period. Some children may require sedation or medication to help them relax in order to make this test less stressful.

Should the MRI or other imaging scan reveal a tumor, the next step is, when possible, to conduct a biopsy, in which some or all of the tumorous tissue is removed from the body and examined under a microscope. A biopsy may be done simultaneously with surgery to remove the entire tumor, or it may be done as a stand-alone procedure in order to determine next steps in treatment. In some cases, usually due to the location of the tumor in a sensitive or dangerous area of the brain or spinal cord, a physical biopsy may not be possible and diagnosis must be made on the basis of imaging alone.

Specific types of biopsies include:

Stereotactic needle biopsy: Guided by MRI or CT scans, the surgeon drills a very small hole into the skull precisely over the location of the tumor. A very small, hollow needle then withdraws a small part of the tumor. This approach is usually used to biopsy tumors in areas where surgery may be difficult or dangerous, but a sample of tissue is still required for precise diagnosis.

Craniotomy: If the surgical team believes that they can safely remove all or most of the tumor, a biopsy will be performed as the tumor is removed. Small samples of the tumor are examined immediately during the surgery to determine whether further surgery is required.

Lumbar puncture (spinal tap): This test is used to determine whether there are cancerous cells in the cerebrospinal fluid, or the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. The test involves removing some of the fluid through a small needle inserted between the bones of the spine.

Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy: This test may need to be done if it is believed the tumor has spread beyond the nervous system. During the aspiration, a small amount of liquid bone marrow is removed from a large bone, usually the hip bone, using a small, hollow needle. A biopsy involves removing a small piece of bone along with some of the marrow.

About American Childhood Cancer Organization

American Childhood Cancer Organization (ACCO) is a non-profit charity dedicated to helping kids with cancer and their families navigate the difficult journey from cancer diagnosis through survivorship. Internationally, ACCO is the sole U.S. member of Childhood Cancer International (CCI), the largest patient-support organization for childhood cancer in the world. Here in the United States, ACCO promotes the critical importance of ensuring continued funding into new and better treatment protocols for childhood cancer. And most importantly, ACCO is focused on the children: developing and providing educational tools for children fighting cancer and their families, empowering them in their understanding of childhood cancer and the medical decisions they must make during this difficult journey. All of ACCO’s resources are available free of charge for families coping with childhood cancer.

For additional information about childhood cancer or on the ACCO, or to order resources for you or your child, please visit our website at www.acco.org , call 855.858.2226 or visit:

The American Childhood Cancer Organization is a 501(c)(3) public charity, whose programs and services are funded entirely by private donations, foundation grants, and corporate contributions.
IRS Tax ID 52-1071826 All donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.
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